Relationship between management factors and dog behavior in a sample of Argentine Dogos in Italy

Abstract 

Owners' husbandry choices may affect the expression of dogs' behavior. In this study, the relationship management-behavior was explored in 181 Argentine Dogos owned by 94 dog owners who answered 35 Yes/No questions on their dogs' behavior (e.g., obedience, aggression, and fear) and 10 single-choice questions on dogs' husbandry. The association management-behavior was explored with χ². Kennel-living dogs were more aggressive than house-living ones (food protection, P = 0.017; owner-directed aggression, P = 0.050; stranger-directed aggression, P = 0.031; same-sex dog aggression, P = 0.028), whereas the latter were more obedient (P < 0.001), destructive (P = 0.048) and friendly with people (P = 0.002) and dogs (P < 0.001). Physical punishment was associated with food protection (P = 0.023) and owner-directed aggression (P = 0.026). Dog-showing was inversely associated with pulling on the leash (P = 0.007), and fears of environmental stimuli (i.e., traffic, P = 0.001; startling stimuli, P = 0.031; loud noises, P = 0.018). Frequent play sessions were negatively related to fear of startling stimuli (P = 0.039) and positively to obedience (P < 0.001) and friendliness toward strangers (P = 0.004). Short daily walks were associated with fears of environmental stimuli (startling stimuli, P < 0.001; loud noises, P = 0.033), destructiveness (P = 0.054), low concentration (P = 0.025) and poor results in training sessions (P < 0.001). Obedience training was positively associated with obedience (P < 0.001), mounting people (P = 0.003), aggression to handling (P = 0.002) and food removal (P = 0.041). Without establishing cause–effect relationships between management and behavior, this survey highlights husbandry aspects that need careful evaluation because there are associated with undesirable behaviors (e.g., kennel living) and aspects that may reduce problem behaviors (e.g., daily walks, play sessions, dog shows).

Keywords: Argentine Dogo, human–dog interaction, dog husbandry, aggression, dangerous dogs